Pigsy was a fuming, worried out of his bloody mind for the small child version of himself, as MK pouts. A slap behind the head as he entered with you in arms, once again in Pigsy's arms, sipping away on some beef broth with your name on it. Clearly, MK wasn't having a good day.

"I can't believe you took (Y/N) with you!" Pigsy set you down, returning with some (F/Snack) to munch on, arms cross and furious "I almost shut down my shop! My noodle business, MK!"

"I'm sorry! I-I thought maybe some fresh air would do (Y/N) good is all.." MK kinda told the truth, rubbing his sore spot Pigsy wacked him with chopsticks at.

A liquid diet isn't so bad. Sipping away on savory beef broth with some added ingredients to gareentee your full recovery. Sharing some of your snacks with Tang, who came over to check if you're running a fever. Taking one, but that's it.

Mei frowns, a bump on her head too by Pigsy, not happy to be swat in the head by him either "After saving their butt's, this is what I get? What side of the bed did you wake up on you fat pork chop."

MK gasped, shocked and fearing for Mei's life. But he heard it. Pigsy wasn't having it today. Not being nicknamed by some teenage rebel millionaire girl.

Tang, however, decided to step up and take the small child away from this ugly, soon to be scene. Swooping up the sick child in arms, munching, and still sipping away the last of beef broth meant for fresh pho.

The stairs up were not bad, Tang made it look like it is, only to open your shared bedroom door. Gagging at the zone of where MK sleeps. Clothing and pizza boxes everywhere on his side of this cramped room. But on your side, to his delight, was more clean and less trash. Clean but workable considering the mountain of books on the floor.

"There." He pulled the covers back, placed your form in, before tucked the child in.

Yet, being in bed, did not wish to sleep yet. Rather open the window and read books like yesterday when it was running cats and dogs two days straight.

"Tang, please open the window."

He did it with a quick 'Oh yeah, sure thing.' to only be greeted by cold, chilly air immediately. Sending shivers down his spine. For some odd reason, about to shut the window to perseve warmth inside the bedroom apartment, a tiny hand stops him by pointing at a book on the small stand.

That book was an entire novel of Journey To The West. There is no book mark to save any chapter.

Tang, knowing he spoke about it to MK multiple times, didn't expect to find the book itself here. For you asking to read it. No questions, but hand it to the sick child that had no more beef broth left. Satisfied with where they were placed and window open too.

"Thank you, Tang."

"No problem! If you need my assistance, just shout!" Tang was leaving, door open slightly, just to repeat himself again a tad louder "Well, yeah, just call me if you need me!"

He was a weird, smart guy. The door shuts to which leaves you in your own small slice of peace and silence. However, you had to hop out of bed for a few seconds, nothing much, as a drawer was slide open to find two bananas and a plate in the shape of a peach, glass too. This is where the birdy eats from. That's why the window was open, in case it wants to come down and visit you again.

Making sure each slice of banana was even, torn by hand than knife, added in some cinnamon spices to it. The bird seems to like cinnamon, like, loves it with bananas. Soon, carefully set it on the window sill.

At any time the birdy is free, it'll be on its way here for a sweet treat. That's if it comes in today. It visited you three days ago in the middle of the night, a horrible rainstorm too, which allows it to stay inside and sleep till the next morning.

Returning to bed to start that book was an option, a nice way to relaxe, only instead of the birdy you've spent time with to come. Instead, oddly enough, a large humanoid monkey came in. Taking the bananas offered to the birdy, one at the time, while observing your shared room with MK.

"Huh, no wonder MK is perfect for Wukong. He can't even take care of his own little mess." The monkey, black fur and red face paint, points out before checking your side, the better side of the room "Organized. Great start, unlike that idiot behind me."

You're not frightened as he set the empty plate down, no bananas with cinnamon left, before falling back into his own shadow. His entire body swallowed up by the darkness to whom he once stood, leaving yourself confused and curious about where he vanished to..

"Damn, he seriously got you on a liquid diet? Pff. Like that'll help with anything."

The black monkey man reappears on your bed, sitting down as his tail stays upright. Amused and slightly displeased with how Pigsy tries to help the child through their sickness. But really, he knows you're not sick. After all, this is stage one.

This was nothing close to an illness. It was rather an upcoming evolution of newfound power. Preparing your weak, fragile human body and morphing it to a strong, compatible host.

A small but deadly force.

"I like it, though! I got snacks with it, too."  You defend Pigsy, your father figure, as ruckus runs about underneath the two.

The monkey man sniffs your jar to which held the beef broth, noticing it's pho broth with added ingredients, to which sighs upon throwing it at the pile of trash on MK's side. His tail flickering from one side to another. Left to right. Now on his feet once again, yet this time, he stood before the small, 'sick' human.

"Sure you do, kiddo. Sure you do." He ruffles your hair, unaware of his plans of making you his apprentice in the making, now eye to eye level with him, taking a knee to speak on equal levels "Before we start going into deep detail, how about we keep this little get up introductions and future get togethers our little secret, hm?"

You're not sure about his plans, stuck in a room alone with him too, to which you nod to his request. Seemly pleased the black monkey man by your acceptance.

"Good." He plops himself on the ground, legs criss cross apple sauce, getting comfy as can be, soon asking questions directly to you "So, for starters, how are you as of right now? One through ten scale."

You thought about it for a little while. The monkey man expected you to reply instantly, but nothing came out. Making him think something was not fully right.

"You good?"

"I am." Finally you spoke, now to answer his questions "It's been a mix of numbers lately. I'll say between four to six. Mostly four.."

"For how long?"

"Uhh...for three days? Yeah. Three days, I think."

He shifts, propping himself fully up, just to rest his head in his hand. Tail curled in slightly, less movement.

Any day now. When will your abilities finally show..

Your small frown throws him off, your eyes set on the plate with no bananas on it, empty "Those bananas were for Birdy.."

Wukong.

"Birdy? Who is birdy?" He was acting dumb, like Wukong didn't know what was soon to come, observing your very being "That your pet or something?"

You shook your head, going over to remake the plate once again "Not at pet but a friend. I think it's a he? I don't know.."

It was a he. You were right. Not much was said as the plate was made again for 'birdy'. Set on the window sill for when he comes and visits. A snack ready for him upon arrival.

He sighs, knowing he'll show up soon enough, getting up with ease "Your an odd one. But seriously, don't be fooled by those close to you. All it would lead you into is an endless void of pain."

"I won't be fooled." You respond quickly, noticing the monkey man up and leaving too, asking as question yourself "Waite! Before you go, what's your name?"

His tail swished lowly. Left to right teasingly. Back facing your way as his shadow expands below his feet, his figure turning dark as his shadow, as all you could see were his purple glowing eyes as he chuckles to himself. Looking rather demonic than friendly.

"Macaque. See ya later, (Y/N)."

It was like the shadow was a portal to another place. Swallowed him whole. Leaving no trace of him at all within this shared room. But your answer was his name, and he seemed to know yours already...

The one person, or should I say bird, flew into the small room. Chirping a happy, joyous song. Snapping you out from your own thoughts as it decided to land on top of your head, snuggled into your (H/C) hair, chirping as a way to show how satisfied it was to finally be here.

Giggling, you pet his tiny head, glad to see him "Hello to you too, Birdy." before returning to your bed, feed him some bananas, and read the first chapter of The Journey To The West.

As for Macaque, well, he didn't head home wards just yet. He had to go gather more intel of your power, how to control and train it, after that little introduction get up. His shadows were his advantage to get to places he wants to go. Sneaky and silent upon stealing a book of high knowledge from an old library in town.

This may be a book for mortals, but it will be enough to know what he will be dealing with.

What his new apprentice will deal with for short.

His his hand was a plum, fresh and unbruised, takes a large bite out of it upon flipping pages to where he needs to study more upon. Stopping upon the title and picture of a green dragon dancing with a large fire bird.

He grins "Just what do we have here." to which spends his day reading upon this book, for an in-depth heads up, eating his plum as he absorbed all the knowledge he could.

°•○•°•○•°•○•°•○•°

Cats.

Tang, Mei, MK, you, and Pigsy were all stuffed inside the spare delivery cart. There is no room to breathe. Sitting in the far back, behind Mei shouting tons of information about Demon Bull King at one place to another, cling onto a stuff green dragon plushie as a form of an apology to stealing you from bed and on this journey to fix this entire situation.

A window seat was all you got. Simply watching all the buildings fly by at the speed of this noodle cart.

That's until Pigsy started talking about this scary, ruthless guy. Saying he can help. Swerving to an immediate stop in front of a boat.

Instead, as of right now, sip hot tea and surrounded by many cats, Pigsy grumbling and infuriated as Mei and Tang teased him for how 'scary' Sandy was. Rather, he was a sweet, gentle giant fishman.

No thought of harming a fly behind those eyes at all.

"More tea, little one?" Sandy, who talks mighty high for his fruit blend tea, asked the small child surrounded by cats, tea cup empty too.

Sandy happily pours you another cup, mixed with honey, as one cat that looks like Sandy comes over.Meowing and purring upon being pet and scratches behind his ear.

"It's my own blend of anti stress fruits! It sure does bring the heart rate down!"

Pigsy had enough of being picked on. Irking marks, time wasting patience, and a steam train of disbelief all in one. One large huff sent all cats flying as he stood up from the couch. Not pleased to find Sandy so friendly and soft. Not as he remembered him as either.

"Sandy, what happened to you?" He leaped up and latched himself on Sandy, death gripping his scarf, shaking the gentle giant back and forth out of frustration "What happened to the angry, clash joint, fishman buddy I used to know!!?"

Sandy only smiles. Setting down his upset pig man friend, like some child throwing a tantrum, nervously pat his head. Trying to help cease the rising rage in his old friend.

"Well, my new therapist really said I needed to calm down. That's why I started drinking tea, attending yoga, and investing in therapy cats. It really helps!" Sandy really seems to enjoy his little life, one of the cats jump at him in joy, catching the cat that is a mini me to Sandy "Aw!Aren't cha Moe-Moe?"

Mei, loving all the cats and some tea, pushed aside Pigsy to tug on Sandy's pants, begging with puppy eyes "Mr. Sandy, sir? We could really use your help! We really need to go to flower fruit mountain!"

MK immediately, puppy eyes and all, on his knees next to Mei, begging too "Please? The fate of the world is at stake!"

They seem to be embarrassing themselves. A lot. Getting up your hand reaches Pigsy curled up form. Shaking him a bit. He was throwing a tantrum about his friends' change and improvements. Soon enough, rub his back to let him know you're there beside him, there when he needs you or wants to talk slash vent.

The gaint took notice of your actions, besides begging like these two were, smile warmly at the two.

"Okay!"

"Really?" They lost their puppy eyes, thinking Sandy was pulling their legs.

But he meant it.

"Anything for Pigsy. I can get you there, but it ain't a pleasant trip." The two celebrate, eager to get on their way, Sandy face Pigsy that stood up, (Y/N) holding his hand as the other the green dragon stuffy.

He frowns, knowing his change upset his old friend, trying to stay positive  as he spoke "Alright let's get moving! I'm telling you now, old friend, if things get hairy, I've changed. I don't go around picking fights anymore."

Pigsy sighs, heavy and loud. He didn't say much after as his attention shifts to you, holding onto Pigsy's hand, smiling down at your small form.

"You're not fond of boat, are you?"

His question gets a quick nod. You tried not to say much about it. But it seems he found out on his own.

A large hand was out for you to take, waiting for you to leave Pigsy and join him "Come on, Moe-Moe can show you around too."

The cat, Moe-Moe, meows. Rubbing in between your legs. Your hand was released by Pigsy, still upset about everything, yet nudges you to accept the offer from Sandy. To ease your nerves down more. Soon enough, find yourself at the top, Moe-Moe in arms, Sandy eager to drive off.

"Meo! Initiate the launch sequence!"

"Lauch sequence?"

Meo-Moe leaps out of your arms. Following the blue cat with an orange mohawk to a large selection of buttons. Grinning evily upon slamming a paw down on a red button. The alarm flashed red upon activation. Unprepared for the roaring engine to ignite, shaking the entire boat, as gears activated to get ready for further orders. Finding many rocket boost engines out on both sides. Large and ready to turn on high speed.

Sandy gains your attention by calling out for Moe-Moe. He allows you to sit down on his large chair before getting ready to grasp the wheel. Moe-Moe on his shoulder, too.

"Onwards to Flower Fruit Mountain!"

All engine rockets ignite to life. Five powerful engines were enough to send this boat flying across the water. MK cheers upon the boat and finally set sail as the others struggle to find their proper footing. Kinda glad to be seated on the captians chair before he drove off. Petting Moe-Moe, that rest on your lap after.

However, unknown to the group at all, one metal bull soldier spy remains close to the group. Keeping tabs on the location of the Monkey King's staff. Watching with binoculars as the boat got smaller.

That soilder reported it all to Redson, watching this city go to ruins, highly displeased with what this soilder said.

He lost himself, morphing with his flames to ignite his size and power, livid upon the news "What!? You let them get away!!?"

"Oh? Your plan didn't go according to plan, hm?" Princess Iron Fang appeared, using wind as her main transport, amused by her son's failed efforts.

Redson didn't wish to face his mother, failed once again, but was forced to by her wind abilities. Picking him up to face her. His face squished in her hands.

"Oh, don't worry, my sweet, useless boy. Mother will get the staff. And I'm not gonna let anybody stop us." She spoke with venom in her voice, pushed Redson back a few steps, her wind abilities lifting her off the ground once again "Not this time."

Like she came, she left the same way. Redson, covering his face as his mother, plan in place, was swallowed into a vortex of her own tornado. Her figure vanished within it as the winds diverse. Leaving Redson to himself once again.

Redson sighs, rubbing his face "I can't be that useless. I'm Redson! Hier of the royal Demon Bull Family throne!" he stood alone on that roof top, to no one to listen to him, just to use the same technique his mother used.

With large flames, the color of his fire hair and demonic essence, vanished within his own flames. To his lab underground.